Sunday, January 6, 2008

It is almost impossible to be a modest male model. Even though Janice Dickinson gives me the creeps, she does show each week on her reality show, that skin sells. In addition, even models who do not want to show skin like some print models and fashion models must perform quick changes on set and back stage and time is money therefore modesty would be a liability.

Model Chris Austad

Models Josh Wald, Josh Saunders and Mario Lekkas

Most successful male models at one time or another have been shot nude. Even if they are not showing the goods, they are required to be naked for the photo shoot. Many have no issue, or at least get over it, and show their butts. Many have been able to keep it at that. Josh Wald, Josh Saunders, Mario Lekkas, Chris Austad to name a few have perfected being naked, yet not showing the goods to an art form. The new king of ‘I am selling Sex, but your not seeing my penis’ is super model and sex God, Chad White (below).

Model Chad White

Many male supermodels such as Gabriel Aubrey, Jason Lewis and even the top male supermodel of the past decade Marcus Schenkenberg have been naked in print, but shown next to nothing. Jason and Marcus did show their butts on screen for tv and commercials, but not had published photographs showing much more than tease shots. (Please if you know of others, do share!) Many models like Marcus have shown far more skin in foreign magazines for the more open European audiences.

Marcus Schenkenberg in a European tv commercial.

Jason Lewis in Sex And The City.

Some famous male models have shown everything, in tasteful, usually black and white photos. (Some shown below). Some were early shots, some were recent. Seems if you are a successful runway or print model, showing the goods really has little to no bearing on your career.

Model Alvaro Nates

Model Andres Velencoso Segura

A great example of this was the great Jamie Doran pic which surfaced last year.Model Jamie Doran

There is a new breed of model which has arisen over the past decade and that is the internet model. For those guys, showing the full monty can help or hurt their success depending on how you look at it. These guys are not necessarily looking to join the ranks of Marcus or Mark Vanderloo., but are looking to make it as big as they can on a following, usually headed by gay men as they can. Many, like Ryan Daharsh, James Ellis and more, show almost every bit of skin but the penis. Others have gone further, blurring the lines between the male model, the soft core model (Playgirl, sharpshooter ect) and gone into the world of gay porn (Sean Cody ect). Seems like for the most part this blurring of lines is mostly restricted to the audience of the internet, as in the past, who really was to know about all the nudes that have surfaced. Besides Playgirl, and some European magazines, how would we have seen them. Some of these nudes have been on purpose and well calculated by the model (Carlson Twins, Joseph Sayers), some of the nudity might have been less calculated and more based on circumstances and luck, both good and bad luck (Brad Kroenig, Travis Wolfe) Some started as legit models and had nudes surface (Levi Poulter, Channing Tatum), where as other stripped for cash, then turned into a modeling contract (Scott Andreasen and Michael Biserta).

Anyway, here is my look at some of examples of the blurring of the male model. Although many have done magazine and print work, their main success is that of an internet model. One where nudity usually increases your fan base. Whether that leads to increase financial gain for the model themselves is a question I do not yet have an answer for.

Levi Poulter was last years big gay blog story. A successful model, who appeared in spreads for Bruce Webber appeared in everything from Abercrombie and Fitch to L’uomom Vogue. Then last year nudes, and lots of them began to appear. I don’t claim to know the whole story, but I assuming these were taken before he hit it big. Please let me know if anyone knows the history. His nudes were not all. Those who download from bit torrent were thrilled to find a video, not just a solo, not just nude, but a video of Levi with another guy. It is too soon to say how the nude shots and video will effect Levi’s future, but the nudes were a pleasant surprise.

Channing Tatum’s nude shot certainly did not, nor will not hurt his career. So so success in the modeling world yes, but he is taking off in the acting world and gets more work and acclaim with each passing year. His early modeling shots were hot, as he has a tough look which appeals to many and posed for some great shots. An early nude surfaced, but it only seemed to add to his appeal

David Rich is a model who was doing ok modeling, but really took off with some nude shots (no frontals) which were a hit on net. These shots took David to a place I guess he was pleased with as he took his new found fame and posed totally naked for Playgirl. I guess David knew where his limitations were in the modeling business and decided to make the most of his internet fame. David currently continues to model, most recently focusing on fitness and looking great naked DVD's.

The Carlson Twins seem know which side their bread is buttered on. Huge hits for Abercrombie and Fitch both dressed and naked, they took off doing some mainstream modeling as well as many shoots for gay publications and gay themed photo shoots. They twins were smart, although good looking, one more than the other...together they are a hot duo. Knowing twins in the business rarely find long term success, the boys cashed in on their huge following with a slew of nude shots. It seems almost yearly, a new nude photo surfaces to the pleasure of their huge following. Time for a new set guys!

Harry, as he is known, or his real name, Scott Andreasen, , has also been modeling for some time. Nothing which brought him much attention though. That was until he did a photoshoot and video for Sean Cody. Harry was without a doubt stood out from the rest of the models on Sean Cody. It is was not just his great body, they all have good bodies, but it was his face. Harry’s face has the All American look to it, apple pie and all. He looks like the boy next door we all wish we had. Certainly his Sean Cody video is hot (if you have not seen it, his floor ass thrusting is quite a site to behold). Harry’s face and hot bod, helped him become one of the few guys who have done some soft porn to move on to modeling. Although he is not exactly gracing the covers of major magazines yet, he has gotten work with N2N underwear, and a contract with Next Modeling Management.

Rafael Verga first came to my attention with his internet spread in ‘the boy’. Rafael became one of the sites most popular model and his pics were posted everywhere. Rafael was modeling prior to this appearance, but it really took off once he was more well known. Rafael posed for one nude shot (that we know of), a tasteful full frontal in black and white. This shot only earned him more fans and has not seemed to hurt his career. Rafael seemed to disappear for awhile but recently was showcased modeling underwear for Giulio.

Model Travis Wolfe is someone few really knew about until his porn tape with wife, Survivor contestant Jenna Lewis hit the internet. All of sudden’s Wolfe was posted and downloaded everywhere. Have not seen or heard of any new modeling assignments since the porn tape broke, but if you have, please let me know.

Joseph Sayers is one of the biggest examples of the fine line between modeling and a type of softcore porn photo. Joseph hit HUGE popularity on the net prior to any frontals coming forth. His Abercrombie and Fitch shots were posted everywhere. Although Joseph was nude in them, they showed only his amazing back side. Joseph is not your typical male model in that besides print work, he is a bit too short for runway work. Joseph took some nude shots early in his career which were more than just test shots. They were obviously taken for a porn magazine or website given the way the shots were taken. These shots were controversial at the time as there was speculation they were taken when Joseph was under age. Well, Joseph seems to know who is going to pay his rent, and with his popularity within the gay community has continued to model almost exclusively in adds with a focus on sexualized themes and has continued to take it all off for the camera. This seems to limit him to strictly an internet modeling career, but with some of the stunning shots which have come forth, who cares.

One male supermodel who I am sure wishes his penis wasn’t flashed all over the internet is Brad Kroenig. Brad is one of today’s biggest male models, and I am sure in the world of modeling, his nude walk down the runway at a John Bartlett fashion show wearing nothing but a surfboard is nothing. Male models often must wear little to nothing on the runway. The pics from this runway show however have become famous in the gay blogging and picture posting circles, and there Brad is most famous for those shots. I think he looks great, although many have chosen to tear him apart due to his size, which to me seems about average. This may be why more models don’ t take it all off.

One male model who may or may not have liked his nude photo fame is Johnny Beyer. I actaully prefer Johnny to Brad with his great bod, face, that blond curly hair and killer smile. A successful model before the surfboard shots surfaced, Johnny has continued modeling and although has yet to reach the super model status, continues to work steadily in the modeling world. It is rather insulting to Johnny that many do not even bother to credit him in the many posts of the photos. Johnny is a great looking guy, whose career in modeling may or may not have been effected by the photos. Certainly Brad may be more well known, but Johnny Beyer is still the one many love in the photo set.

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